13. Escape! From the Shadow Alley

“Rin… Rin!”

Someone was calling him.

He really wished they wouldn’t.

“Five more minutes…” The boy grumbled. He rolled to the side, hand outstretched to silence an alarm clock that didn’t exist. He slammed his hand down on nothing, falling off the bench Kinuka had lain him across. He hit the floor and, ignoring the girl’s cry, lay there for a moment more, wondering whether it was even worth it anymore. He could feel the tarmac roughing up his cheek with every slight movement. He could’ve gotten up at any time he wanted, but decided to let himself wallow in the melodrama for a little longer—or, at least until Kinuka stopped sounding concerned.

“I know you’re alive, Rin.”

Rin rolled over onto his back. Feeling a dash of cold on his shoulder, he grimaced as he felt the water from the puddle seeping into his shirt.

“Hey, wakey wakey, mister lucky-to-be-alive-because-of-me.” Kinuka put her foot on Rin’s chest, rocking the boy back and forth a couple of times. Her patience was starting to wear thin. The whole playing-dead act for sympathy was starting to grow a little old. “Fancy getting up now?”

Rin groaned. “Not really.”

Kinuka kicked him in the chin.

“Ow!” Rin rolled around some more, clutching at his face. “What the hell was that for?!”

“I don’t know why I even bother!” She huffed and sauntered off further down the alley.

That seemed to have done the trick, however. Soon, Rin was back on his feet, staring after her like she were some kind of alien. Hanging his head, he sighed, attempting to move his jaw back into place with a deal of pain and difficulty.
“For crying out loud…” He grumbled, walking after her. “Is it too much to ask for just five minutes more shut-eye?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Rinkaku Harigane—” Kinuka snapped, turning around to lean close— “but we don’t exactly have the luxury of rest at the moment, do we?”

“Okay!” Rin jumped back. “Sorry—”

“At any moment,” Kinuka’s voice grew higher, ascending into hysterics, “we could be attacked by any more of those… those things—”

“—Rejected?” Rin offered helpfully.

“I don’t care what they’re called!” Kinuka shrieked, slapping him across the face. “The least you can do—if you’re not going to thank me for bringing you back from the dead—is tell me what you did back in that cafe!”

“You…” Still recoiling from the blow, Rin squinted at her. “How?”

“I…” Kinuka blinked a couple of times, as though not believing it herself. “I don’t even remember—” She clutched at her forehead. “There was this voice in my head. My arms started moving all by themselves—it was so strange—everything was turning into thread and I—” She cut herself off at last, shaking her head.

“I knew it,” Rin said. It was obvious, now he thought about it. At the time, he’d been too worried as to whether or not Kinuka was alive, but all the dots were joined up now.

“Knew what?”

“Watch this.”

Rin twisted the white lines between his fingers until he had fashioned an origami crane. Kinuka watched with fascination.

“That’s so beautiful! How did you—”
“So you can see it. Thought so.”

Rin pointed at her forehead. The girl’s third eye was open. Rin made a thoughtful noise, as he spotted a mirror lying discarded on the alleyway floor. One heavy stomp later, and it shattered. Picking up a shard, he held it up to Kinuka so she could see her own reflection. She was horrified.

“That’s your third eye. You have one just like me.”

Kinuka nodded, still taken aback.

“I’ll try and condense what the Architect told me about it all—it’s important you understand, I guess.”

“Wait, the Architect? Isn’t that—”

“The aforementioned spirit.” On cue, he manifested beside Rin. “Indeed. It is I.”

Kinuka did another double take. “A ghost?!”

“Not incorrect,” said the Architect. He hovered there, stern and silent.

Kinuka waited for elaboration that never came. “Not much of a talker, is he?”

Rin rolled his eyes.

It didn’t take long for Kinuka to be clued in about the cognitive world. She nodded along, surprisingly receptive to Rin’s brief explanation.

“So,” she said at last, once the floor was finally hers. “What about those weird shapes you were making before—”

“Ah!” Rin was more than eager to demonstrate. “That’s the power of my Specialty.” He performed the hand movements again like he was doing a magic trick, and made another frame. He turned this one into a boat. “Framework, remember?” He was getting more fluent with the motions now, though his hands were starting to hurt slightly.

“That’s so cool!” Kinuka lent forward and oohed at it for a moment. “So, do I get one of those abilities too? You said that all Psyche Users get a Specialty, right?”

Rin scratched the back of his head. “Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Architect said the ritual we both performed was incomplete. That’s why we have to borrow a Specialty until we can make it our own. Right?”

The surly spirit nodded.

Kinuka puzzled over that for a good moment. “Is that why the Seamstress mentioned something about a contract?”

“Seamstress?” The Architect narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah. Back in the cafe, just before I was able to heal your wound, I heard a woman’s voice in my head. I remember that voice, back from when I was a child.” Kinuka faltered for a moment, smiling through the painful nostalgia. “Her spirit was with me too, even back then. I haven’t heard her voice in so long, too, only for her to come back to me now. It hurt so much, and it’s all pretty much a blur, but I remember her saying the word contract.”

“This Seamstress,” the Architect said at last. “Can you contact her now?”

Kinuka shook her head. “I can’t feel her presence. Not at the moment, anyway.”

“Reach out into the depths of your soul,” he ordered. “Concentrate.”

Kinuka closed her eyes, as psychic energy began to flow around her. Rin could see it accelerating, her third eye the gleaming catalyst. After a few moments, she exclaimed, “I feel her! She’s here!”

A strange exuberance had possessed the Architect. “Reach out to her, now!”

Kinuka inhaled sharply and redoubled her concentration. An ethereal breeze swept the alley, and a female spirit manifested from behind the girl. Her angelic form descended into sight, plentiful silver shawls flowing in the breeze.

“Another Further Spirit?!” Rin cried.

“█████,” The Architect took a step forward. “It has been so long.”

The Seamstress didn’t respond. The corners of her pale mouth turned down slightly. The slightest traipses of a frown.

“My dear, dear █████.” The Architect stood firm. “I implore you, answer me. After all this time, do you no longer recognise me?”

The Seamstress ignored him once more. Painful silence elapsed a couple moments longer, before the spirit shook her head. Turning gracefully on one foot, she began to walk away, each step further into obscurity.

Rin and Kinuka, equally bemused, shared a wide-eyed look before gawking at the Architect for what felt like forever.

“Architect? Context?” Rin asked, scared he might not receive any. Kinuka hurriedly nodded.

The Architect ignored him; the surly spirit evoked a low growl under his breath, and folded his arms.

A strange new sensation—a distinct pinging in his third eye—distracted Rin from whatever the hell that was. “We need to leave, like, now!” He cast a furtive gaze around. The walls of this alleyway, each brick had eyes. All the eyes were all looking at him. He could feel their gazes boring into his skin like searing pinpricks. Was this paranoia? He was on the run from the police, after all. Not bothering to wait, Rin strode off towards the alley’s mouth at the far end.

“Boy!”

Rin froze.

“There are two powerful psychic signatures approaching,” the Architect warned. “Keep your guard up.”

Rin could feel it too. His third eye sent out a pulse of psychic energy; seconds later, he heard the faint resonance, like drops of water sending ripples across a still pond.

“Leaving so soon? Ain’t that a shame,” one voice rang out across the alley.
Rin whipped around, to see the two men standing atop a building opposite.

“How the hell did you get up there?” He squinted.

They ignored him, silhouettes framed against the setting sun.

Rin and Kinuka shared a look.

“You’re not supposed to be up there!” He cried. “Get the fuck down!”

Waiting for their invisible cue, both men leapt from the ledge. Their descents slowed towards the ground, so both touched softly down on the concrete.

Rin blinked and stepped back. How did they do that with such grace? It was as though they were floating.

The man in front had long ash-blond hair, and toted a wide black fedora and long trench coat. The tails flapped out to the side with the breeze, and he walked in neat, clean step, polished leathers clearing the street puddles with every footfall.

He only had one eye, and it burned a crystal blue.

Kinuka was also backing away. “Who are you?”

“No-one to cause you concern.” The hat-wearing man had a deep tone, rasped with the growl of a few too many cigarettes. “We just have some brief business to discuss.”

Rin backed away. A pit settled in his stomach; a paralytic chill shot down his spine. He didn’t know what was worse, the menacing deliberation with which the man walked, the sinister grin, or the fact he couldn’t see the eyes the grin belonged to. He felt the weight of their psychic presences like gravity. The air around him felt heavy. Rin felt his knees begin to give.

“Boy,” warned the Architect. “You cannot possibly hope to fight these two in your current state. You must run!”

“Kinuka!” Rin caught her attention. “Book it!”

She didn’t need telling twice. Turning, she bolted after Rin towards the opposite mouth of the alley. Where they were going didn’t matter. They just needed to get away.

“Look at ‘em go,” the other man said. He was even larger than the first. His black suit was in disarray, the tie halfway undone, the jacket practically hanging off his broad shoulders.

The first procured a cigarette and lit it, strands of blond whipping forward. “Do something about it.”

Meguru Yoha grinned and stepped forward. “Roger that.”

He took the bouncy ball from his back pocket and threw it like he was skimming a stone. The ball whistled through the air at incredible speed, ricocheting three, four, five times off of the adjacent walls, until it hit a stick propping up a heavy stack of crates. Knocking the stick away, the boxes crashed to the ground a few metres ahead of where Rin and Kinuka were headed, blocking off any chance the two had at escape.

“Fuck!” Rin ran at the blockade and kicked it, but the wooden crates refused to budge. All he got for his efforts was a searing pain in his foot. The boxes were stacked too high to try climbing them, either.

The men closed in further.

“I believe you’ve got something of ours, Rinkaku Harigane.”

“Who the hell are you?”

Hideyori Hakana didn’t relent, stopping a couple of metres away and stowing both hands in his pockets. “The Ascension Blade,” he said. “Hand it over, and no-one will get hurt.”

“You think I’m going to fall for that?” Rin’s hand instinctively went to his bag. “Answer my question!”

Hakana looked amused. “And what will you do if I don’t?”

“He’s—He’s going to cut you in half!” Kinuka threatened.

Rin could see how much she shook. Looking between the two—he couldn’t put his finger on it, but something seemed familiar.

“Is that right?” Hakana indulged her. “Well, you did manage to dispatch those Rejected all by yourselves.”

Never before had a round of applause felt so patronising.

“You know what those are?!”

The man’s grin told them all they needed to know.

Rin grit his teeth. “I’m not giving you this damn knife, and that’s that.”

“How about we consider this a trade?” Hakana took out one hand, holding a small glass orb. It swelled in his palm to the size of a football, revealing something past its misty surface. Inside was Katsuro Harigane, bloodied and bruised, bound against the wall, barely conscious.

“Dad?!” Rin’s eyes shot wide. Kinuka stifled a scream.

“I’m sure you know what this means, kid,” Hakana spun the orb in one hand, though the image within remained static. “You hand over the blade, and we’ll give you back your father.”

“You will?!”

The man’s grin twisted something diabolical. “Promise.”

“Rin,” Kinuka nudged him. “What’s going on?”

“Dad hasn’t been home for months,” the boy mumbled. “Didn’t think about it at the time, but…”

“He made a big mistake, sending it to you,” Hakana continued. “Don’t worry. We’ve made sure he’s learnt his lesson.”

“Bastard!” Rin’s jaw clenched so hard he thought it might shatter.

“Now, kid,” Hakana’s grin faded. His patience was wearing. “Hand over the blade, or you’ll never see your father again.”

Rin stood there for a moment, shaking. His father hadn’t come back home, now he knew why. All the puzzle pieces were starting to line up: the book, the cryptic notes, the knife, the Rejected. It was all connected.

“Well?” Hakana reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun. Pulling it back, the bullet clicked into the chamber.

Handing over the blade wasn’t an option. His father’s warnings made that abundantly clear. Rin knew they needed to escape, but how? He met Kinuka’s gaze for a moment.

“Please!” She cried out. Both men looked at her. “Please don’t shoot us, please—” The girl began to sob.

Hakana’s hand didn’t so much as falter. He trained the gun on her instead.

Kinuka shrieked. “Please!” She begged. “We’ll do anything! It’s just— this is all so scary, and—”

“Crocodile tears? Nice try.” The man wasn’t fooled. Eye still trained on Kinuka, Hakana pointed the gun away and pulled the trigger. A loud bang shook the alley. Rin yelled in agony and fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding leg. The series of platforms he’d been busy constructing with Framework faded away.
Kinuka cried out.

“God, will you shut up already?” Meguru growled. He threw his bouncy ball again, and watched it ricochet around the place, before it struck Kinuka hard in the back of the head. Knocked unconscious, the girl crumpled to the floor.

The pain in Rin’s leg was blinding, like a searing hot iron was being pressed into his flesh, but Rin grit his teeth through it. He shuffled backwards, leaning up against the boxes. “Fuck you!”

“If you’re not going to give me the blade willingly,” Hakana said, “I have no problem with taking it off your corpse.”

“Just try me, asshole!”

Hakana aimed the barrel down at Rin’s forehead and fired.

The bullet never met its mark. The frame Rin made as a shield shattered under the force like glass.

“Not bad, kid,” Hakana grinned. “Let’s see how long you can keep it up.”

Hakana fired once, twice, three times more. Each time, Rin made another frame to take the hit. Each time the frame shattered, the boy made another to take its place. Hakana chuckled and kept firing until his gun clicked empty. Rin’s arms fell limp, his breathing shallow and ragged. That was the most frames he’d made in such a short time. He couldn’t muster the strength anymore.

“Is that it?” Hakana looked at his gun, disappointed. He spun it around his finger, and it vanished in a momentary flash. “Was fun while it lasted. You had some promise, kid. Shame it had to go to waste.”

Meguru picked Rin up by the scruff of his shirt. Rin struggled, but not for long. He grabbed the man’s forearm, trying to loosen his grip, but he may as well have been trying to wrestle a steel beam. Hakana made a move to grab the boy’s schoolbag, before catching sight of something above.

FLOCK

群 MURE

A new voice entered the fray, followed by the distorted sounds of a thousand pigeons. The area was filled with a flurry of shadows. Each shadow took the form of a bird, aimed at terminal velocity for the two men, a concussive barrage. Hakana grunted in pain and stumbled back, buffeted by the assault. Meguru dropped Rin to cover his own face. Shrouded under the cover of the shadow flock, a hooded figure dropped to the ground from the vantage of the building. The wind from the descent lifted the hood off the boy’s face, revealing a long mane of bright magenta, and an expression contorted in hatred.

Hakana’s electric blue eye widened in delight. He grinned. “Heya, kid!”

With the flock of shadows surging all around, the pink dark boy lashed out. Moving like bottled lightning, he struck Hakana square in the shoulder with a purple-sparkling fist. The man reeled back, still fending off the cloud of ravenous birds.

From the other side, Meguru wound up a haymaker and came in swinging. The boy caught and seized the forearm. He ducked underneath, throwing the larger man away from him and off-balance, before spinning on his toe and driving a snap kick into the small of his back. Crossing his arms, the flock intensified, filling the alley with a dark and painful flurry.

“You!” Was all Hakana had time to say. the newcomer moved quicker than he had time to react.

He dashed over to where Rin and Kinuka lay and crouched down beside. He then raised his hands high, casting another shadow under the evening sun.

SPIRE CRANE

山鶴 YAMATSURU

An amorphous shape emerged from the pool of shadow. The blob morphed into a large crane which stretched out and flapped his wings, before crowing up to the heavens. Grabbing hold of both teenagers with one hand made of shadow, their saviour grabbed a hold of the crane’s leg. With a flap of its wings, the majestic bird soared into the air, the gust of wind forcing the two assailants back further. Soon, the three had disappeared into the air, and were flying away out of sight. The flock from earlier dissipated, leaving the suited men in the empty alley by their lonesome.

“Damn birds!” Meguru cursed, scuffing the toe on the concrete and examining his pockmarked suit. “This is gonna cost a fortune to get fixed. Are you kidding me?”

Hakana tipped the brim of his hat low over his face. “Well, wouldn’t you look at that?” You’d expect frustration, but all the reaction he gave was a raw, throaty laugh. “Who’d have thought he’d come and pay us a visit so soon? The boss will be oh-so-pleased.”

They watched as the crane, silhouetted against the setting winter sun, flapped off and away into the distant city horizon.

Meguru was busy thinking how funny it’d be if they were taken out by a low-flying plane. “Are we gonna go after them?”

“No need.” Hakana rolled another orb between his fingers. “We got what we came for.” He showed the orb to Meguru. The depths swirled and coalesced into a still, Rin in total concentration, fingers spinning frames of desperate defence. “Though, if you want to pursue—” he started walking away— “by all means, be my guest.”

Meguru pretended as though he were considering it. “If it’s not an order, don’t think I can be bothered,” he concluded with a shrug. “Can we go get something to eat now? I’m starving.”

“That’s not my problem.” Hakana summoned his phone and punched in a number. “As far as I’m concerned, you can get lost and gorge yourself silly. You’ll be the one paying for it, though.”

“Cheapskate.”

“And don’t try and claim it on company expenses, either. I’m the one who gets an earful from accounts if you do that.”

Raising it to his ear, the electronic drone lasted only a couple seconds, before a booming tone came through on the other end.

“Hakana.” Gus Ishimatsu had been expecting the call. “What’s your progress? Did you manage to retrieve the blade?”

“Not yet,” he grit his teeth through his grin. “The reconnaissance, however, was a success. The Rejected deployed to apprehend them were both destroyed. There’s no trace of them.”

“Then, the boy’s ascension was a success.”

“Specialty and all. Seems what you predicted about the ritual was true in both cases. It wasn’t just Harigane, either. There’s a girl, too.”

“Of what relevance is she?”

“No clue. Most likely just collateral. She has her wits about her, though, enough to try and cause us a diversion.”

“Is she strong, Hakana?”

“Our definitions of that word are world’s apart, boss.” He grinned. “You know that.”

The man on the other end sighed. “Does she have power?”

Hakana rolled a crucial orb through his fingers. That moment had been vital. “She does indeed. That ability of hers looks mighty useful.”

A sigh from the other end. “Make use of her as you will, but if she proves a nuisance, eliminate her. It’d be a shame, but needs must.”

“Then, I’ll find a use for her. Wouldn’t want to disappoint.” Hakana’s grin deepened. “And Hargiane?”

“That damned scourge is already harping on and on about his brother. I would otherwise ignore it, but I’ve grown curious. Observe the boy’s power, see how it grows. I must see for myself how it compares to my own.”

“I’ll do what I can. We were close today, but they only just managed to escape; help arrived at the eleventh hour.” Hakana grinned. “My prediction was right again. Your prodigal son has returned after all.”

Silence. Hakana checked to see whether the man had hung up.

“I want him brought to me alive,” ordered Gus. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal. Shall we pursue?”

Another long pause.

“No. You’ve done enough for today. You’ll have new orders soon.”

Hakana raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. Returning the phone to his pocket, he retrieved out the orb showing Rin, Specialty in action, and gazed within it. He shook it, and saw the next few seconds play out in slow motion. Eventually, the motion stilled.

“Meguru.”

The man jerked awake, having been snoozing against the stack of crates nearby.

“We’re leaving Harigane be for the time being.”

“S’that right?” Meguru yawned and rolled his shoulder. “How come the little punk gets off easy for now, huh?”

“Boss’ orders.” Hakana spun the orb on his finger, letting the crystal glass catch the sunset and glint. A flash of inspiration lit up his face moments later. “Ooh, now there’s a thought. C’mere.”

Meguru traipsed over and peered over his superior’s shoulder.

Hakana rapped the orb with his knuckle, and the image dissolved into spectral ink. He gave it a sharp shake, and the technicolor ink swirled, coalescing into another picture. It showed another boy, staring blankly out of the broken window back at the ruined Senketsu High School.

“Who’s this li’l nerd?” Meguru asked.

“Not very nice of Harigane to leave his little friend out of the loop, is it?” Hakana grinned. “Why don’t we bring him up to speed?”

Meguru made a face. “Only if we can get ramen afterwards.”

Hakana chewed this thought like he might chew said ramen. Eventually, his mind lost to his stomach. “Fine. Still your treat.”

“Eh?! Why’s it gotta be my treat?”

Hakana rolled his eye. “Didn’t you win the lottery last week?”

The larger man folded both arms behind his head. “You honestly think I got any of that left? There was a big race on last weekend.”

Hakana’s face soured. He crushed his cigarette and vanished the remains. “Unbelievable.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, and shook his head. He made to set off, but footsteps from the other end of the alley made him pause. “Oh?”

A ways further down, a fire door slammed shut. Concrete clacked under hard-heeled flats, disturbing the occasional puddle. The young woman wore a smile so thin and so wide it near-bisected her face. Large dark pupils nearly eclipsed their irises, and her face was framed neatly by the short black bob and bangs cut in a diagonal slant. The black continued from head to toe. A thin double-breasted coat, nearly as long as her superior’s, hung from her shoulders, and swayed behind her with every step.

She strolled towards them with leisurely gait then—blink and you’d miss it—spanned the remaining twenty yards in under an instant, without the slightest sound. She raised an arm, sleeve slipping from the wrist, and rested a hand on Hakana’s shoulder. She wasn’t tall enough to look over his shoulder, but drew far too close.

“Boo. Did you miss me?”

“Back already, doll?” He asked. “That was fast.”

“You know I like fast, Hakana.”

Meguru snorted. “That’s what she said.”

“Mm, who was the last one again? Aoi, wasn’t it?” She gave him a sly look. “Shame she didn’t agree, hm?”

Meguru clicked his teeth. “None of your business, Sumiyaka. Not like you’d know, anyway.”

She giggled. “Us girls, we talk. You’d be surprised. Besides, why would I miss an opportunity to catch dirt on such an esteemed colleague?”

“Tch. Go to hell.”

Kaori Sumiyaka looked to her boss. “Harigane didn’t go home. The house was empty. I assume you found him instead?”

Hideyori Hakana turn his head around and glared at her, eye wide and cold. “First, take that hand off my shoulder.”

Sumiyaka pouted; her hand slithered into retreat.

Hakana made a step’s distance, and swivelled around on the ball of his foot. “We found ‘em alright; two of ‘em, actually.”

“Oh?”

Hakana shook his head, hand on his hip. “Harigane’s gone and roped a girl into his mess.”

Sumiyaka played with her lip. “Ooh, what a player. Is she hot?”

“She’s a teenager,” he deadpanned.

“Still. I’m curious if the kid has any game.”

“Hardly my concern.” He busied himself with another cigarette.

“There’s a third, too,” chimed Meguru. “That kid from Theia. You know the one.”

“Ah,” Sumiyaka smiled, thin mouth stretching. “I know the one.”

“Pelted us with his birds, got my suit all messed up,” he complained.

She gave him a once-over. “Don’t you always look like that?”

“Shaddup.”

Sumiyaka turned back to Hakana. “What did you do with Yoshine?”

The executive took a drag and tapped away some ash. “Sent him home; those two have got a recital soon, thought I’d give him time off to practice.”

“Aw, you’re so generous,” she touched at her cheek, mocking a swoon. “What a lovely boss.”

“That’s enough out of you,” he frowned.

Meguru laughed.

“You too,” said Hakana. His piercing blue side-glare froze the jester solid.

Sumiyaka checked her phone. “It’s getting late. I’m claiming that overtime for sure. Got anymore orders while we’re out?”

“Might do, yeah.” Hakana stroked his chin. “Since you’re still out, fancy some more tailing?”

She grinned. “Oh, do I.”

Hakana pointed at the cafe across the street, as well as the alley behind them. “There’s residuals everywhere. See if you can’t make something happen.” He conjured two more marbles, and tossed them her way. “Some toys, too, since you’ve been good.”

She caught and slipped them into her coat pocket. “Christmas has come early!”

She cried. “Thanks, daddy-o!”

“Watch it,” he hissed.

She flicked her tongue at him, then tilted her head. “You two heading home?”

“Nah,” he said. “Meguru and I have a little dinner date planned.”

Meguru groaned. “Don’t say it like that, boss!”

Hakana grinned and ignored him.

She oohed. “Have fun!”

“One of Harigane’s pals should be out on the prowl right about now. We’ll see if we can’t catch him for some drinks.”

She nodded. “If that’ll be all for me?”

Hakana tipped his hat. “Countin’ on ya.”

She gave him a two-finger salute and sauntered from the alleyway, almost seeming to warp around the corner and out of sight.

Meguru held his head in both hands. “Why did you have to phrase it like that…”

Hakana laughed. “Not keen for ramen anymore?”

The other man sulked. “You’re definitely paying for it now.”

Hakana shrugged. “Sure, but you’ll get what I order for you.”

“Ugh, fine.”

The two stepped from the alley and started down the opposite direction. The businessmen held sway, commanding the late afternoon streets like gangsters. Those behind kept a distance, and those incoming soon made themselves scarce.

Meguru yawned, folding his arms behind his head again. “Sumiyaka makes a good point, actually. Once we’re done here, I’m definitely claiming overtime as well.”

Hakana gave him a frosty side-eye. “Sumiyaka clocked in before eight this morning; you started work half an hour ago. You’ll be lucky if you don’t get another write-up.”

“…Fuck.”